PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Burley Haines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Haines
vs
Shaw

177 cm
29
152 lbs
12 - 3 - 2

175 cm
29
152 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Burley Haines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brad Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Haines misses.

Haines has closed the distance and engaged Shaw in a clinch.

Shaw breaks the clinch.
Haines tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Haines or perhaps it was just good defense by Shaw, which made it look bad.
A combination from Haines does no damage.

Shaw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haines keeps working.
Haines sneaks back into half guard.
Shaw wants to pass the guard but Haines is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shaw is looking to advance position but Haines won't allow it.

Haines looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haines pushes Shaw off looking to stand but Shaw dives back in and keeps control.
Haines is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Shaw is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haines defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shaw is trying to control. Haines wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haines wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shaw wants to clinch.
Haines looks to score with a jab to the body but Shaw is just out of range.
Haines throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shaw fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shaw. Haines does a little dance to reset his feet.
Haines leaves Shaw with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shaw moves in looking to clinch but Haines pushes him off.
Shaw moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shaw misses with a left hand

so Haines counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Haines trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaw tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shaw working for a triangle but Haines defends it easily.
Haines slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines wants to stand but Shaw is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shaw is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haines manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shaw manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Shaw will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Haines misses with a leg kick

and Shaw decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haines's guard.
Shaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Haines is retaining full guard.
Haines lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shaw keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.

Haines drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Shaw manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Haines has Shaw in his guard.

Haines is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haines is trying to hold Shaw in close to prevent damage but Shaw has managed to pass into half guard.
Haines trying to hold on to Shaw's head to control him but Shaw postures up.

Shaw is looking for submissions but instead, Haines has regained full guard.
Shaw has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shaw showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Shaw working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Haines lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haines tries to free his leg and advance position but Shaw is retaining full guard.

Shaw is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haines defends well.
Haines won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.

Haines got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shaw has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haines has managed to get both his arms back between Shaw's legs - danger averted.

Shaw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Haines doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Haines manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Haines trying to control but Shaw is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaw looking for a guillotine here but Haines defends easily.
Haines pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaw is keeping the position for now.
Brad Shaw has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haines wants to control from the top but Shaw keeps moving.
Haines wants to pass the guard but Shaw is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Haines trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shaw looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haines is fending him off so far but Shaw persists. Nope, Haines circles away and we're back to standing.

Haines shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Haines lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Haines postures up.
Haines looking to pass the guard.
Shaw controls Haines momentarily but Haines frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haines is looking to work some ground and pound but Shaw has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Burley Haines will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shaw shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Shaw was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haines is trying to control Shaw's posture but Shaw avoids it.
Shaw tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Haines takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haines is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is trying to control. Haines wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haines has his hands clasped together around Shaw's back. He's all about the action.
Shaw throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shaw seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shaw wants to take a breather but Haines is having none of it.
Haines is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haines is not content to let Shaw control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haines looks to throw the jab but Shaw is out of range.
Shaw throws a hook to the side of Haines's head but Haines sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Haines looks to score with a jab to the body but Shaw is just out of range.
Haines lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shaw is defended easily by Haines.
Haines tries to counter with a takedown but Shaw is quick to defend against it.
Haines swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shaw counters with a three punch combo that has Haines backing up. Haines nods at Shaw to acknowledge the strikes.
Haines fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw shoots in and drives through. Haines sprawls well.
Shaw closes the distance and clinches up with Haines, looking for a takedown. Shaw pushes Haines against the cage but Haines circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Burley Haines has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Shaw.
Haines looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It seemed like Shaw was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shaw shoots and misses

and Haines counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shaw won't be happy with that.
Shaw tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shaw struggling a bit here.
Shaw manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.
Shaw is taking a breather. Haines says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Shaw is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Haines doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shaw.
Shaw passes to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Shaw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shaw has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Shaw!
In his post fight interview, Brad Shaw started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.